ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick volleyball team hosted a tri-match on Sunday, coming out victorious in both of their contests on the day. They swept by Cazenovia in the morning, and took out Alfred State in four sets later on. The Hawks are now 5-1 on the season, their best start to a season since 2007 when they began with six wins in seven contests.
Match One vs. Cazenovia (3-0; 25-7, 25-12, 25-20)
● After going down 4-2 early in set one, the Hawks scored 23 of the next 26 points to take the set, including the final 12 all with Kaileigh Brandow (Manorville, NY/Eastport South Manor) serving.
● Set two was a bit closer, but was also never really in doubt after 'Wick led 8-3 early.
● The Wildcats led 10-7 in the final set before Hartwick reeled off nine consecutive points for a 16-10 advantage. That was pretty much all she wrote for Cazenovia as they succumbed 25-20.
● Brandow had seven kills, seven digs, and a match-high five aces.
● Christina Mattocks (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) led all players with 19 assists, and also had seven digs.
● Dell Potts (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane) tied for the match high with eight kills.
Match Two vs. Alfred State (3-1; 22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-16)
● Despite a late 5-0 Hawks run to knot the first set at 22, the Pioneers were able to swipe a 1-0 match lead.
● The Hawks took it to them in the second set, putting together multiple extended runs of unanswered points for the 25-12 win.
● The final two sets were closer, but 'Wick still maintained a comfortable lead throughout the third and fourth stanzas to close out the win.
● Colette Maloney (Williston Park, NY/Mineola) and Toria Betelak (North Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) tied for the match high with 14 kills; Maloney also had 12 digs and two aces, while Betelak had three aces, three blocks, and three digs.
● Staecia Silofau (Kapolei, HI/Maryknoll) just missed a double-double, digging the ball nine times and contributing nine kills.
● Braelyn Hornick (Candor, NY/Candor) and Kayley Ericson (Franklin, CT/Norwich Free Academy) split setting duties, with the former picking up 28 assists and the latter 15 helpers.
The Hawks are back to it on Friday, September 17 for day one of the Union/Russell Sage Tournament. They will take on Skidmore at 6 p.m.
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